Pat Toomey, Joe Sestak spar at debate

View full sizeAP PhotosPat Toomey and Joe Sestak debated Sunday night in Philadelphia.Two U.S. Senate candidates faced off tonight at La Salle University in Philadelphia,
offering differing views on the economy and health care.

U.S.
Rep. Joe Sestak, D-Chester/Delaware/Montgomery, and former
Lehigh Valley congressman Pat Toomey, a Republican, had agreed to debate
on the economy, although only about half of the questions from the
audience focused on that topic.

Sestak’s and Toomey’s opponents did not participate in the
debate. Sestak is running in the May 18 primary against incumbent U.S.
Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., and Joseph Vodvarka. Toomey is running against Peg
Luksik.

The moderator tried several times to keep the questions on topic
after audience members persisted on asking about health care.

“Well, it all relates to the economy,” one man
who asked a question said to the moderator.

On health care, Sestak lauded the Democrats' recent
reform package with specifics such as the ban on denying coverage to those
with pre-existing conditions.

Toomey lashed back saying he would work to repeal health care
reform and replace it with other measures such as the purchase of insurance
across state lines.

The two candidates found some common ground on questions geared
toward the economy. Both said federal spending needs to be reduced.

“When I was (in Congress) I was fighting against the
spending that was going on,” said Toomey, who previously held the
seat currently occupied by U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent.

Sestak said he would like to see the
government extend help to the group he says drives the economy — “The
working family, not Wall Street” — by getting tax cuts to that
group.

Sestak said he does not support the flat tax as he said
Toomey does, and the government should look to guarantee community bank
loans to entice borrowers.

Toomey said he believes in strengthening the economy through
lower taxes, less spending and increasing domestic energy production.